With their first-placed destiny technically still in their own hands, Scotland's penultimate match of Euro 2024 qualifying sees Steve Clarke's side travel to Tbilisi for Thursday's Group A showdown with Georgia.

While the visitors will be present at next year's Finals, Willy Sagnol's men will have a second bite at the cherry in the playoffs after a turbulent qualification campaign.

Match preview

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A sombre September extinguished Georgia's hopes of sneaking into the top two positions in Group A, as following a 2-0 beating at the hands of Thursday's opponents in August, Sagnol's crop conceded a staggering nine goals in back-to-back losses to Spain and Norway.

However, the visit of Thailand for a friendly offered the Crusaders a prime opportunity to return to winning ways - which they did with an 8-0 demolition - before coming under the cosh against Cyprus, who forced Giorgi Mamardashvili into a few first-half saves last month.

Once Otar Kiteishvili found the net from range, though, the Georgian floodgates opened, as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Levan Shengelia and Georges Mikautadze also contributed to the second-half slaughter in a 4-0 triumph, cementing their fourth-placed position in the group.

At the very worst, Georgia will finish second from bottom before seeking a shot at redemption in the playoffs owing to their 2022-23 Nations League success, and the Crusaders are still capable of usurping Norway - who are three points better off having played a game more - into the bronze medal position, not that it will make much difference in the grand scheme of things.

It has been just over three years since Georgia's dreams of a maiden Euros appearance in 2020 were dashed in a 1-0 playoff loss to North Macedonia, but before the hosts have the chance to go one better, they must navigate two final fixtures versus Group A's top dogs, starting with the visit of Scotland on Thursday.

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Despite being given a taste of their own medicine by Spain in their most recent Euro 2024 qualifier - going down 2-0 to La Roja seven months on from their identical success over 2008 and 2012 European champions - Scotland quickly forgave and forgot as they rooted for Luis de la Fuente's men to put Norway to the sword.

With Gavi's strike enough to sink the Nordic nation, Spain sent both themselves and Scotland through to next year's tournament in Germany, seeing the latter qualify for the Euros finals for only the fourth time and the second time back-to-back, having also appeared at the 1992 and 1996 events.

Scotland's Group A duties are far from over, though, as Clarke's men now prepare for a straight shootout with Spain for the right to enter the draw as group winners, currently sitting level on points with La Roja but being kept in second spot owing to a worse goal difference.

Nothing can separate Scotland and Spain in the head-to-head column, meaning that the former can usurp La Roja into first place with victories over Georgia and Norway, although they may need an astronomical goal difference swing in their favour if De la Fuente's team overcome basement boys Cyprus and Georgia this month.

Clarke's men actually enter Thursday's contest on a miserable three-game losing streak, having been bested by England and France in friendlies either side of their two-goal Spain defeat, and while the visitors strolled past Georgia 2-0 on home soil in June, their only two previous visits to the Caucasus region in 2007 and 2015 both ended in defeat.

Team News

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All of Georgia's esteemed names are present in the ranks for November's fixtures, with not a single uncapped player called up by Sagnol, although he has lost 18-year-old Basel midfielder Gabriel Sigua to injury.

While his switch to Ajax from Metz has not worked out as intended so far, 23-year-old striker Mikautadze - who has gone six games without scoring for his new club - is surely primed to partner Napoli wing wizard Kvaratskhelia in the attacking third.

In contrast, Scotland's defeat to Spain last month took another turn for the worse when captain Andrew Robertson left the pitch with his arm in a makeshift sling, and the Liverpool left-back will miss the remainder of 2023 as he recuperates from surgery.

Full-back injuries have reared their ugly heads elsewhere, as neither Aaron Hickey nor Kieran Tierney are fit to take part for Scotland this month, while at the other end of the field, Southampton striker Che Adams has withdrawn with a groin issue; Lawrence Shankland has been called up to replace him.

Amid Clarke's defensive crisis, 21-year-old Josh Doig - who plays his club football in Serie A with Hellas Verona - could be in line for his senior Scotland debut on Thursday, although Nathan Patterson and Greg Taylor will likely restrict him to a spot on the bench from the off.

Georgia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Mamuchashvili, Lochoshvili, Kashia, Kvirkvelia, Azarovi; Kiteishvili, Kvevkveskiri; Chakvetadze; Mikautadze, Kvaratskhelia

Scotland possible starting lineup:
Clark; Hendry, McKenna, Cooper; Patterson, Gilmour, McTominay, Taylor; McGinn, Christie; Dykes

We say: Georgia 1-1 Scotland

With Adams watching on from the medical room and a distinct lack of wide defenders, Scotland could be fighting an uphill battle to make it two for two against Georgia, whose defence-heavy setup should prove difficult to penetrate on home soil.

Clarke's side have much more on the line than Sagnol's men, who are enjoying a simple cruise to the playoffs, but the Crusaders should not take their foot off the gas at home and have the wherewithal to restrict Scotland to just the one point on Thursday.


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Written by
Ben Knapton

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